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August 30, 2010

This is Charlie... a beautiful Chocolate Lab, doing his bit to clean up New Zealand prisons. When we offered dog training programmes here at polytech, there was alot of talk of schools using these specially trained dogs for random checks too. Not sure if it has happened... but I do know they can detect the scent on your clothes, even if you just sat on the bus where someone else sat previously that had the scent of it on their clothes. Always made our annual visits to see the police drug dogs in action a little scary - where have I been recently!!!
The other thing I like about these Labradors.. they are usually fit, muscly and thin...which is not something we are used to seeing with pet Labradors these days!
On that topic - if your dog ( or cat) is needing to lose some weight, the new Hill's Pet Fit site is worth a read... http://petfit.hillspet.co.nz/Public/AboutPetFit.aspx
Facts about overweight pets: It's not just people who're suffering from obesity. More pets are too, with over 41% of dogs2 and over 32% of cats3 estimated to be clinically overweight or obese. Extra weight is a significant danger to their health, increasing the risk of serious diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, and painful osteoarthritis. Studies with dogs have shown those on a controlled diet with lower weight and body fat can live two years longer than dogs whose diets and weights aren't controlled....
Now, I just need to work out how to get one of my cats back in shape! The rattle of the biscuits in the bowl results in a small earth tremor as she runs to the kitchen... hurls herself up to the bench and dives into her tucker. The rest of the day she sleeps. With the five other cats sharing the same food, separate feeding just is nto an option and "lite" biscuits are not enough... so regular runs in the garden might be the option... Sigh...

August 28, 2010

Sometimes there are things you can do, but perhaps you shouldn't! I know people make clothes from their pet's fur... but after checking out a few of these, I can't say the garments do a lot for the image of the owners!

I have heard if you are going to do it, only use 25% dog fur as any more can be too hot. Of course, this might not be true if you live in Alaska or similar.

Angus - if you feel the need to make something out of Wilf's hair - you will model it for us won't you :) Probably impossible to imagine in your current French 45C temperatures, but perhaps when the snow returns the font could run you up a fetching little cardy! See Wilf at : http://wilfanddigby.blogspot.com/

August 26, 2010

This stag was seen swimming in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand.... about a km off shore and apparently the Department of Conservation says these deer often swim out to islands in the Queen Charlotte Sound. You learn something new everyday...

Thinking of swimming, it has also been announced today that a dam in Central Otago won't be going ahead here because of "Gollum"... not the Lord do the RIngs version, but a rare indigenous fish..

The Gollum galaxiid's official name is Galaxias gollumoides. The fish is ranked as "nationally vulnerable" by the Department of Conservation. Pretty powerful fish to stop all the plans!

August 17, 2010

Scooting... set to one of my favourite pieces, Bach's Cello Suite 1: Prelude - a lovely piece, think Master and Commander theme. Possibly a little ruined forever by the theme of the images! If your dog does this you are probably amused - or irritated when they leave brown smears on the floor! However, you really need to get it checked as it most often caused by inflammation, infection, or impaction of the anal sacs. Of course, it might be fleas, or tapeworm segments, or an inflamed bowel, or a tumour..... but worth getting it checked :)

August 11, 2010

Words fail me really.... she seems lovely; I can understand why they wanted to save her... but as a vet, I can't imagine making the decision to operate on her so extensively, leaving her so helpless... I hope they find the right home for this special needs cat.